Putting people first: how do we care for each other, build resilience and solidarity in a world in crisis?
Webinar, Tuesday 31st January 2023, 14:00–15:00 CET (13:00–14:00 UK/Ireland)
Register here
The war in Ukraine, the deterioration of the welfare state across Europe, more globally, the COVID-19 pandemic, with the risk of further spread across this interconnected world. The ever-looming threat of climate change, whose effects we can already feel. The mounting and compounding crises are many and more could be added as a long litany, a testament to the challenges we are facing.
Improving crisis management has become an essential issue for protecting and enhancing present and future wellbeing in the EU and globally.
In response to this challenge, the Scientific Advice Mechanism to the European Commission — consisting of the Group of Chief Scientific Advisors (GCSA) and the Science Advice for Policy by European Academies (SAPEA) — and the European Group on Ethics (EGE) in Science and New Technologies have presented policy recommendations to improve crisis management frameworks.
The evidence review report from SAPEA presented the latest scientific evidence on the subject of crisis management, and evidence-based policy options for action. It was handed over, along with the GCSA Scientific Opinion and the EGE Statement on Strategic Crisis Management in the EU, to Commissioners Mariya Gabriel and Janez Lenarčič on 22nd November.
As we explore the concept of crises on its different levels, we find that individuals and communities are affected differently by crises. Whilst so many are negatively affected, particularly for those disadvantaged in society, there are others who are able to benefit.
What is a crisis, and how to ensure we can provide adequate support — social, economic, health and wellbeing — to those in need? How can societies distribute the burdens, as well as the benefits, fairly and equitably? How can a sense of solidarity in society help as a guiding principle? And how do we build resilient communities?
In order to shed some light on these questions, we are hosting a webinar in which our panel of experts will discuss these critical issues, where we consider both current crises and what is needed for the future. You, the audience, will have the opportunity to pose your questions and be part of the debate. The webinar is free and open to all.
Our panel of experts
- Professor Barbara Prainsack MAE, Professor for Comparative Policy Analysis, University of Vienna; Chair of the European Group on Ethics
- Dr Eija Meriläinen, Human Geography Group, Örebro University; Member of the SAPEA Working Group on Strategic Crisis Management in the EU
- Professor Nils-Eric Sahlin MAE, Professor and Chair of Medical Ethics, Lund University, Vice-Chair of the European Group on Ethics
- Professor Alena Buyx, Professor of Ethics in Medicine and Health Technologies, Technical University of Munich; Chair of the German Ethics Council
Professor Ole Petersen, Vice-President of Academia Europaea, will chair the session.
This is a joint event organised by the European Group on Ethics, SAPEA and Academia Europaea.
About the European Group on Ethics
The European Group on Ethics provides the European Commission with high quality, independent advice on all aspects of EU legislation and policies, where ethical, societal and fundamental rights issues intersect with the development of science and new technologies. The EGE is an independent advisory body of the President of the European Commission, founded in 1991.
About SAPEA
SAPEA (Science Advice for Policy by European Academies) produces independent evidence review reports that are used by the Group of Chief Scientific Advisors to make policy recommendations to the EC. This transparent process ensures that the EC’s proposals for policy and legislation are well-informed.
Academia Europaea is a member of the SAPEA consortium.
